Apparatus for forming cellular concrete walls and the like.



J. R. FREEMAN. APPARATUS FOR FORMING CELLUL ONCRETE WALLS AND' THE LIKE. APPLICATION FIL 8.16. 1914.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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right angles to the body JOHN R. FREEMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CELLULAR CONCRETE WALLS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, T9116.

Application filed February 16, 1914. Serial No. 818,832.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN E. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Cellular Concrete "Walls and the like.

The invention relates particularly to the' forming of cellular walls, floors, partltlons or other structures built of poured or plastic concrete, and has for its principal object to provide a novel apparatus for forming the holes or cells in the mass of concrete or other plastic material.

To these ends the invention conslsts 1n the novel apparatus hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which;-

Figure l is a cross sectional view of either a wall or a floor of concrete provided with a series of longitudinally extending holes or cells. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same showing my novel apparatus in position in one of the holes or cells. Fig. 3 is a plan view of either the top or bottom of a completed wall, showing the cell-forming apparatus in cross-section and in the difierent positions it assumes when being detached and withdrawn from the surrounding concrete. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of a portion of the cell-forming apparatus on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modification.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings A, A, A respectively represent a series of cells or holes which have been formed in a wall or floor composed of a mass of concrete B, which may be provided with a series of steel bars or rods 0 for reinforcing the same. The mass of concrete B is poured in any ordinary or convenient manner between the forms T and T to limit and hold the mass within prescribed dimensions. Within the space inclosed by the forms T and T prior to pouring the plastic concrete B are placed a series of forms or molds of any size that it is desired to have the holes A in the com- These forms or molds consist of an annular split shell D one edge of which is bent inwardly at substantially portion of the shell and inserted in a ll-shaped longitudinal groove formed in an internal shaft or roll E formed of wood or other similar material. The bent-over edge K is firmly held in the V-shaped groove by means of a series of nails M. The opposite edge L of the shell D is not fastened to the shaft E, but is preferably held in the ll-shaped longitudinal slot and against the bent-over edge K by the elasticity of said shell 1) and by the hydrostatic pressure of the plastic mass of concrete upon said shell. If desired, however, the edges K and L of the shell D ma be held together by means of a wire or cord binder P, as shown in Fig. 2. The internal shaft E is materially longer than the shell D and has a diameter materially less than the internal diameter of the shell D. Said shaft E is provided at one end with a socket J which is adapted to receive a lever means of which the shaft E may be given a torsional or rotary motion.

When the concrete or other plastic material is being poured between the forms T and T, the shell D and shaft E will be in the position shown at the left in Fig. 3, and will remain in that position until after the concrete has set or become hard. After said concrete has set and it is desired to withdraw the shell D, the internal shaft E is twisted in the direction of thearrow in the center of Fig. 3 by means of a lever H. As the shaft E is twisted. so as to rotate in contact with the interior surface of the shell D, the fixed edge K will move downward out of engagement with the opposite edge L, as shown in the center of Fig. 3, and as the shaft E 0011- tinues to revolve, it will gradually separate the metallic shell D from the internal surface of the concrete by winding said shell upon the shaft E more or less tightly and thereby reducing the diameter of said shell, as shown on the right in Fig. 3. After the shell D has become completely detached from the surrounding concrete the whole apparatus, comprising the shaft E and shell D, can be pulled out or withdrawn bodily from the mass of concrete, leaving the desired cell or hole A.

In order that the vacant space between the shaft E and the shell D may not become more or less clogged or filled by the leakage into said space of the surrounding semiliquid or plastic concrete, it is desirable that the edges of the curved sheet of metal form- H, by

ing the shell D should be pressed tightly together or held so tightly against the shaft E that such a leakage may be prevented. This may be done by having the free edge L of the shell D press directly against the opposite inturned edge K, as shown in Fig. 4, or a soft packing of india rubber or similar substance It may be secured by nails S between the two edges of the shell D, as shown in Fig. 5. In order to more securely hold the edges of the shell in such contact with each other and against the shaft E the wire binders P may be used, as shown in Fig. 2. It is obvious that when these binders P are used and the shell D and shaft E are withdrawn, said binders will be left embedded within the concrete walls of the cell.

\Vith the above described apparatus it will be seen that cells may be quickly and easily formed in concrete walls, and that these cells will greatly decrease the conducting power of the concrete wall to heat or cold and decrease the passage of atmospheric moisture through such a wall by percolation. These cells also serve to reduce the bulk of concrete required for building a wall of given thickness or rigidity, and serve as conduits for electric wires or plumbing pipes or other conductors in the walls and partitions of buildings.

For the purpose of facilitating its'detachment and withdrawal the shell, previous to pouring or packing the concrete, may be coated with grease or lubricant.

It will beunderstood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise mechanism and form displayed in the accompanying sheet of drawings, except in so far as is indicated in the accompanying claims, and that many changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a shaft and a split shell having one edge secured to said shaft and the other edge held in removable engagement with said secured edge, said shell being of larger diameter than the shaft.

2. An article of the character described comprising a shaft, a split shell of larger diameter than the shaft and having one edge secured to said shaft and the other edge bentinwardly and held in removable engagement with said secured edge, and means for revolving said shaft in a direction to move said edges out of engagement with each other.

8. An article of the character described, comprising a shaft having a longitudinally extending V-shaped slot upon its periphery, a split shell of larger diameter than the shaft and having one edge secured in said V- shaped slot and the other edge held in removable engagement with said secured edge, and means for revolving said shaft.

4. An article of the character described. comprising a shaft havinga lever at one end and a longitudinally extending V-shaped slot upon its periphery, a split shell of larger diameter than the shaft and having one edge bent inward and secured in said V-shaped slot and the other edge held in removable engagement with said bent edge.

JOHN R. FREEMAN.

Vitnesses WV. H. THURSTON, J. H. THURSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

